It is with great sadness to report the loss of a true champion of our sport, David Jennings.

David L. Jennings Jr., 37, of Land O’ Lakes, Florida, passed away Thursday, March 11, 2010. He was born in Streator, IL, and moved to Florida in 1974. He was a graduate of Land O’ Lakes high school in 1991 and worked as an Insurance Agent.

In 1991, David set the National Flipout record at 10 flips in 12 seconds. In 1996, he set the Open Mens Trick Record to 9,435 points. Both records still hold today and are likely to hold for some time.

But, many kneeboarders best knew David by his signature S-bend. He set the bar high. And, to this day, no rider has been able to execute a finer S-bend.

Mario Fossa, 11 time kneeboard world record holder had this to say about David:

"He was a great friend and someone that I watched grow into a champion. As a person, you couldn't find a nicer guy. He was humble and had a very positive attitude.

As a rider, I remember taking him to his first Nationals in Oklahoma City in 1989 and I believe he took the boys division that year. It was all up hill from that point. He was the first person to beat me on the flip-out after 7 years and took my world record as well.

In Tricks, I set my last world record in 1995 and I thought that it would stick a while. I was wrong. Dave came in a year or two later and took it. I could not have been any happier to see Dave walk away with those records forever. In my mind, he's probably the best rider that we have seen."

David is survived by his parents, David L. Sr., and Mary K. Jennings; brothers, Jeff and wife Jackie, Joey and wife Christine, Justin and Robert and several nieces and a nephew.

The family will be scattering David's ashes in Bell Lake, the lake he loved, at a later time. Donations may be made to the Jennings family c/o Joey Jennings, P.O. Box 2325, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

Please keep David's Family and close friends in your thoughts and prayers.